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SCS DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
4:30 PM - University Center Rangos Hall
4:00 PM Distinguished Donuts - Outside the Hall
The 2nd Annual
Bruce Nelson Memorial Lecture
Dr. Stephen Wolfram
Creator of Mathematica
Author of A New Kind of Science,
and
Chief Executive Officer, Wolfram Research, Inc.
A New Kind of ScienceStarting from a few computer experiments, Stephen Wolfram has spent more
than twenty years developing a new approach to science, described for the
first time in his book A NEW KIND OF SCIENCE. Basic to his approach is the
idea of studying not traditional mathematical equations but instead rules of
the kind embodied in the simplest computer programs. A key discovery is
that such rules can lead to behavior that shows immense complexity and
mirrors many features seen in nature. Wolfram has built on this to tackle a
remarkable array of fundamental problems in science, from the origins of
apparent randomness in physical systems, to the development of complexity in
biology, the ultimate scope and limitations of mathematics, the possibility
of a truly fundamental theory of physics, the interplay between free will
and determinism, and the character of intelligence in the universe. When
Wolfram's book was released on May 14, 2002, it became an instant
bestseller, and is now showing many signs of initiating a major paradigm
shift in science. Wolfram's presentation will cover some of the key ideas
and discoveries in his book, outlining their implications, and discussing
their personal and historical context. An extended question and answer
period will be included.Speaker Bio: Stephen Wolfram was educated at Eton, Oxford, and Caltech, receiving his Ph.D. in theoretical physics in 1979 at the age of 20. His early work in physics and computer science was recognized by a MacArthur award in 1981. In the early 1980s he made a series of now-classic discoveries about systems known as cellular automata, leading to numerous applications in physics,mathematics, computer science, biology, and other fields.
In 1986 he founded Wolfram Research, Inc. and began the creation of Mathematica--now the world's leading software system for technical computing and symbolic programming (and tool which made A New Kind of Science possible). Over the past decade Wolfram has divided his time between leadership of his company and pursuit of basic science. Presenting for the first time the results from his past fifteen years of work, Wolfram's book A New Kind of Science was released in May 2002, and became an instant bestseller.
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